Competition Associate

cmno; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Private medical insurance

Enhanced parental leave

Holiday entitlement

Holiday exchange

Job summary

CMS is seeking an associate in Edinburgh or Glasgow to join its leading Antitrust, Competition & Trade team. The role offers exposure to a broad range of high-quality work, including investigations, merger control, litigation and regulatory matters, with opportunities to work across related sectors.

Applicants should have 2-4 years of PQE in UK/EU competition law, with a willingness to expand into public procurement, state aid/subsidy and trade law.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years PQE in UK/EU competition law or equivalent experience.
• Desirable background in public procurement, state aid/subsidy or trade law.
• Ability to work across transactional, contentious and advisory work and to develop client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Assist on competition investigations, merger control and competition litigation.
• Provide advisory support across regulatory and trade matters, including export controls.
• Travel and close collaboration with international offices; develop business within the team and sector groups.

Skills

UK/EU competition law

FDI experience

Client relationship management

Drafting and communication

Business development

Job description

An excellent opportunity to join one of the largest Antitrust, Competition & Trade teams in Europe. You can be based in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

About the Role

The team handles a broad range of high-quality work including competition investigations, behavioural advice, merger control, competition litigation and a wide range of regulatory and trade work, including export control/sanctions. The team also advises extensively on public procurement matters, subsidy control / State aid and consumer enforcement issues.

The team is currently expanding and we are looking for a motivated, ambitious associate to be based in Edinburgh or Glasgow. We are looking for candidates with a passion for competition and regulatory law and with an interest in working closely with our highly rated Technology, Media, Life Sciences and Energy & Utilities teams where we are seeing a continued increase in competition-related instructions.

The UK team comprises 7 partners and a team of 15 other fee-earners, plus a dedicated Professional Support Lawyer. The team is based largely in London, but also in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Brussels. It is part of a wider Antitrust, Competition & Trade Group across CMS comprising more than 225 competition lawyers worldwide. The role provides an excellent opportunity for someone looking to further their career in a dynamic and internationally focused competition team, with a balanced practice across transactional, contentious and advisory work.

Associates are encouraged to take on high levels of responsibility and client contact is encouraged. From day one your role will include being embedded in client relationships and involved in business development activities within the team and across the firm's sector groups. The team undertakes a significant volume of cross-border work, cooperating on a daily basis with our international offices and the role will include travel. We are committed to investing in our team and we provide comprehensive training to develop knowledge and skills.

About You

• 2-4 years of PQE
• a solid background and experience/training in UK and EU competition law, and ideally FDI
• a willingness to learn one or more of public procurement, state aid/subsidy, consumer and/or trade law
• a general desire for a balanced practice across transactional, contentious and advisory work
• excellent communication and drafting skills - the ability to communicate succinctly is a must
• strong commercial acumen and the ability to provide clients with focused strategic advice
• good commercial awareness and curiosity about market developments
• a collaborative and supportive approach, with the ability to build strong relationships
• a positive, service-delivery mindset

What's in it for you?

• Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)
• Flexible, hybrid working policy
• Generous bonus scheme
• Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)
• Holiday exchange scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced parental leave
• Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.